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It’s my great pleasure to be with you this evening and to congratulate the American Chamber of Commerce of Iraq on being recognized as the 98th member of the US Chamber of Commerce’s worldwide federation.
Every one of you, and every company you represent, is engaged in an historic undertaking. The members of AmCham Iraq are leading the way towards a future relationship between Iraq and the United States built on peaceful and profitable cooperation—cooperation that will strengthen our economies, create new jobs, open new markets, and pave the way for future generations to enjoy and extend democracy throughout this country and the entire Middle East.
These goals will not be easily achieved, but that is why I use the word “historic” to describe the enterprise we are involved in here. Every company and individual who signs up as a “member” of AmCham Iraq will long be remembered for displaying the kind of courage, vision, and optimism that does show up in the history books when the time comes to evaluate who was present when a new era was born.
Clearly we now are operating in a risky environment. There are numerous groups and individuals who, for various cynical reasons, would like to turn the clock back in Iraq, and they are prepared to use violence and terror as instruments of achieving their goals.
We must be steadfast in supporting the Iraqi Interim Government in facing these threats down, relying on the Multinational Force-Iraq and the Iraqi Security Forces to do their jobs. And we should be confident that they will succeed.
Throughout Iraq all of us have seen a deep desire on the part of the Iraqi people to throw off the legacy of violence and lawlessness that has weighed them down for too long. If that weren’t so, more than a thousand citizens wouldn’t have gathered in Baghdad a few weeks ago for the National Conference. No one came to that meeting without taking some kind of personal risk. The reason they did so is clear—they want to build a new Iraq.
To achieve this objective, the next major step is organizing and conducting the national election scheduled for December, or, at the latest, January, as prescribed in UN Security Council Resolution 1546. Again, there are those who would prefer not to acknowledge Iraqis’ right to govern themselves through democratic elections, but they would be well advised to learn to express their aspirations through ballots rather than bullets. With firm international support, the Iraqi people will hold their upcoming national election, write a constitution, and by December 31, 2005 choose a new government under that constitution.
That is what President Bush wants, and I’m sure it’s what you want—the opportunity and stability provided by democratic freedom and rule of law.
So far it hasn’t been easy, I know. A day in Iraq can be a long one. But this is a country that once had an expanding middle-class with a fast-developing economy, and it can be that kind of country again. It is a country that still possesses vast natural resources, including water as well as oil. And it is a country that is well-positioned to leap ahead in acquiring the latest technologies by opening its markets and reforming its policies.
Ultimately, these factors will end up shortening your long days here and providing a good return on your investments of sweat equity as well as cash.
Our mandate is to help you succeed. We therefore want to maintain close contact and open communication with AmCham Iraq and its members, sharing information and, wherever possible, lending you a hand. This has always been my practice as US ambassador, but I have never been more proud of my association with US business—or more ready to help—than I am here and now.
So again, let me congratulate you on founding this exciting new venture, and let me urge anyone present who has not yet signed up as an AmCham Iraq member to do so as soon as possible. History waits for no one. It’s time to get on board.
Thank you very much.
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